Women's 200 Meters Features Thomas, Alfred And Hodge; Russell Taking Another Swing At World Record

By Kit Holden for DyeStat/Vinco

Bert Richardson Photo

Olympic champion Gabby Thomas will make her Diamond League comeback in Monaco on Friday when she takes on fellow Paris gold medallist Julien Alfred in the women’s 200 meters.

Thomas spent 2025 battling with an Achilles injury that ultimately saw her withdraw from the World Championships in Tokyo.

She is back on the world stage this season, however, and will make her first Diamond League appearance in two years at the Stade Louis II this weekend. 

The U.S. star has shown impressive form already this season, notching up a string of early-season wins in Ethiopia, Kenya and Botswana before clocking 21.70 in the 200 meters in Texas last month.

A world-leading performance at the time, that result is still the second-fastest in the world this year. 

In Monaco, Thomas faces some of the fastest women in the world. 

Adaejah Hodge is the current world leader over the half-lap with 21.68, while Olympic 100-meter champion Alfred is also unbeaten outdoors this season.

Monaco will be the first of two back-to-back Diamond League races for Thomas, who is also set to compete in London next weekend. 

The American will be hoping to polish her record in Monaco, a venue where she has struggled in the past.

Her two previous appearances in the Principality came in 2019 and 2023, with Thomas finishing seventh on both occasions. 

Here’s what else to look out for at the Meeting Herculis EBS this weekend…

Don’t miss   

Talk of a world record will continue to swirl as Masai Russell returns to action in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

After clocking 12.14 in Xiamen earlier this season, Russell has set her sights firmly on Tobi Amusan’s four-year-old record of 12.12, meaning every Diamond League meeting is a chance to make history.

The Olympic champion gave a rueful smile as she crossed the line with a meeting record of 12.24 in Eugene last week, before insisting that the record will “happen when it happens”. 

One to watch

Jamaica’s Dejanea Oakley clocked an impressive 49.64 to win the women’s 400 meters in Eugene last weekend in what was only the second Diamond League race of her career. 

The 22-year-old Bowerman Award finalist from the NCAA champion Georgia Bulldogs is now the second-fastest woman in the world this year behind Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, whom she faces in Monaco. 

Who’s in form?

Cuba’s Davisleydi Velazco will be favourite in the women’s triple jump after she jumped a world-leading 15.13 meters (49-7.50) in Doha.

Oblique Seville is still the world leader in the men’s 100 meters with 9.82, despite defeat to Kayinsola Ajayi in Eugene. 

Indian high jumper Sarvesh Anil Kushare will make his Diamond League debut in Monaco, just days after setting a new national record with 2.31 meters (7-7).

Americans in action

Jacory Patterson and Rai Benjamin will take on world champion Busang Collen Kebinatshipi for the second time in a week in the men’s 400 meters. 

Katie Moon, Emily Grove and Moll sisters Hana and Amanda line up in the women’s pole vault.

Anthony Jordan and Sam Blaskowski take on Seville and Letsile Tebogo in the men’s 100 meters. 

Brit-watch

Ben Pattison and Jake Wightman take on Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the men’s 1,000 meters and Matthew Hudson-Smith adds even more Olympic medalist caliber to the men’s 400 meters.

High jumper Kimani Jack makes his Diamond League debut just weeks after posting a PB of 2.31 meters and then winning the NCAA Outdoor title for the University of Georgia in Eugene.